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Adam McQuaid "Shut Down" for 2-3 Weeks

BOSTON, MA - As the Bruins begin their final regular season push before the playoffs, they will not have defenseman Adam McQuaid in the lineup.

On Wednesday, during the Bruins' post trade deadline press conference, General Manager Peter Chiarelli said that McQuaid was going to be "shut down" for two to three weeks.

The blueliner has been faced with a frustrating season, missing a combined 30 games to injury heading into the Bruins' game against the Washington Capitals on March 6.

His latest injury, a quad strain, has kept him out of the lineup since January 19. He was back skating and very close to a return after the Olympic Break before re-aggravating it.

"We had something similar with Jared Knight (hamstring) last year and you just have to basically shut that player down for a couple weeks and rest, and he came around," said Chiarelli. "But I don’t know. That’s what I expect would happen."

"[Adam's] injury, while it keeps healing, he has setbacks, so we’re just going to give him rest, two to three weeks, and see where he is after that."

With McQuaid out for another extended period of time, and Dennis Seidenberg out for the season following his ACL/MCL tear in late December, the Bruins would have had to rely solely on callups from Providence if they faced injuries down the stretch or during their postseason run.

But before Wednesday's trade deadline passed, Chiarelli and the Bruins added two depth blueliners to their roster to provide more insurance.

"We brought in two guys, two big guys that can both move the puck and both push bodies down low," said Chiarelli. "So, for me, the defense isn’t about one player — it’s about the group as a whole and how they interact. That’s the way our system is, that’s the way our coach is, so these guys both are smart players."

"It may take them some time — it usually takes some time for the D to adapt to our system, new D that were brought in, and I expect the same to happen with these two. But it’s a good system, it’s a system of trust, and I know they can both contribute to the group."